Home > DeLeo says it’s ‘desire’ of House to complete deal on teacher evaluations

DeLeo says it’s ‘desire’ of House to complete deal on teacher evaluations

State House News ServiceWednesday, June 13, 2012

With just three weeks to vet and pass a bill amending seniority rights for teachers before proponents abandon the legislative process and head straight to the ballot, House Speaker Robert DeLeo said it is his goal to pass a bill and not punt the issue to voters.

“We’re going to have to go over the legislation to make sure everyone’s okay with it. There’s also some funding issues we have with the legislation that we’re working out with the governor to see where those monies are going to come from so we still have some questions to resolve, but it’s our desire to get all of this accomplished before the July 3 deadline,” DeLeo told the News Service.

Union groups are split over the deal struck between the Massachusetts Teachers Association and Stand for Children, with the AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts vowing to fight any attempt by lawmakers to advance the bill proposed by the other two groups.

Gov. Patrick on Monday dismissed the idea that the AFL-CIO’s opposition could complicate a compromise, telling reporters, "I know what they said and people say a lot of things. I’m not worried about that.”

The deal would require budget writers to find $6.5 million in the fiscal 2013 budget currently in conference for teacher and administrator training on the use of a new job evaluation system, and commit to funding an additional $6.8 million in fiscal 2014.